The Anomaly Beyond The System

Chapter 157: Reunion with sister

A few minutes earlier, inside the largest room of the Scarlett Castle, which was more of a training ground than a room itself.

Only two women occupied the enormous space.

One of them stood perfectly still, dressed in a black maid uniform.

Kanna.

Her expression remained as emotionless as ever, her pitch-black eyes silently observing the woman standing opposite her.

Lia.

Her black hair, streaked with crimson, was tied into a high ponytail that swayed behind her as she stood panting, her hands holding her knees.

“Haa… haa…”

Her heavy, exhausted breathing echoed through the chamber as sweat dripped from her nose onto the floor.

After taking a few deep breaths, she lifted her head toward Kanna.

She had been training here for hours, pushing herself relentlessly while trying to strengthen her fire powers and gain better control over them.

Ever since Vivienne’s mocking scolding—and the subtle manipulation hidden beneath those mocking words—Lia had changed.

She had started training instead of staying inside her room like a depressed shut-in, and from that day onward, her torturous training had begun.

And she had been making steady progress as well.

“Lady Amelia… should we take a short break?” Kanna’s flat voice reached her ears.

Lia remained silent for a moment before giving a small nod.

“…Five more minutes.”

Kanna nodded faintly and stepped forward, handing her a towel that emerged from the shadow beneath her feet.

Watching the dark tendril sink back beneath the floor, Lia couldn’t help but mutter,

“That power is almost a fucking cheat.”

Whenever she fought this maid, she always struggled terribly against those black tendrils that could emerge from anywhere, as long as there was even the slightest shadow.

Once, Lia had even tried burning the entire floor just to stop the shadows from reaching her, but it had been impossible. Her mana depleted far too quickly, and before she could even cover a fourth of the chamber, she collapsed from exhaustion.

And not only that, but the emotionless maid could even store items within her shadow, making it seem even more versatile than Lia’s own fire affinity.

Though she still liked her fire much more.

After all, if she had a problem, she could just burn that very problem to ashes.

Kanna didn’t respond and simply handed her the towel, which Lia accepted before wiping the sweat from her face.

She found it a little strange that she still got sweaty despite having fire powers herself.

But she didn’t have enough control to simply burn the sweat away, since doing so would end up burning her clothes as well.

After another minute, Lia’s breathing finally steadied as her regeneration kicked in, easing the strain in her muscles.

Though it didn’t make her feel much better, since she also had to do her best to ignore the familiar bloodlust stirring within her, becoming more annoying and unbearable with each passing day.

Yes, she had been hungry for over a month.

And why only a month when Lucian had been gone for two months?

After roughly two weeks of struggling to control her bloodlust, Vivienne finally decided to give her the highest-quality human blood available—or at least, according to her.

Only according to her.

Because the moment Lia even tasted it, she immediately spat it out, glaring at Vivienne as if she had given her some kind of deadly poison.

Despite being considered the finest blood available, it was utterly disgusting to Lia, leaving Vivienne completely confused.

But having no other choice, Lia forced herself to drink some of it to stop herself from going out of control before finally deciding to simply endure the bloodlust by starving until her brother returned—since he was the only one whose blood she craved even now.

Even if that constant thirst made sleep almost impossible.

Thankfully, the lack of sleep didn’t affect her physically, thanks to her vampire nature.

After another couple of minutes had passed, Lia finally straightened up.

Instead of handing the towel back—

Flames burst from her palm, and within seconds, the cloth was reduced to drifting ash, leaving only the faint scent of smoke lingering in the air.

Kanna’s eyes flickered slightly as she watched the ashes scatter across the polished floor.

“…Why?” A quiet murmur escaped her lips almost unconsciously.

Her expression remained the same—emotionless—but something within it had changed, as if she were watching something precious being destroyed before her.

Lia, however, neither heard her words nor noticed the change in her gaze.

After a few seconds, Kanna let out a small, almost inaudible sigh.

Then she stepped back into position.

The break was over.

But just as they were about to resume their training, Lia’s head suddenly snapped toward the massive wall enclosing the training ground.

Her brows furrowed faintly as she felt a familiar sensation, and for a brief moment, her eyes flickered crimson.

“Miss…?”

Hearing Kanna’s words, Lia blinked, then shook her head and turned back to the maid.

“Nothing, let’s continue.”

As soon as those words left her mouth—

She exploded forward.

Instantly, flames erupted around both of her hands, engulfing her forearms—far better controlled than they had been two months ago, when she had recklessly thrown a fireball into the air without even understanding how.

The surrounding temperature rose rapidly, and the flames around her hands vaguely resembled a pair of gauntlets.

Kanna watched her approach, but her expression remained unchanged, not moving an inch.

Just before Lia entered striking distance—

The shadows beneath her feet rippled violently, and countless black tendrils exploded from the ground.

Seemingly unsurprised by it, Lia punched straight into the shadows, her flaming fist smashing through them.

Most of them didn’t even budge, but they still retreated beneath the flames.

It took her a few seconds to move through them as they continued twisting around her, but as soon as she broke free—

“Huh…?”

A confused sound escaped her lips.

Kanna…

She had already vanished from her position.

“Kanna, that’s cheating?!” Lia shouted as she quickly looked around the enormous chamber.

She was sure Kanna had entered her shadow, something she had said she wouldn’t do, since it would make winning far too easy for the maid.

But even after a few seconds of searching, Lia still couldn’t find her.

Then—

Lia’s pupils contracted as her instincts suddenly flared in danger.

Kanna had already appeared directly behind her, a sharp dagger held in her hand.

Lia barely managed to twist her head around, only to see the flash of the blade racing toward her.

But before it could strike her flesh—

Clang—!

The sound of metal colliding echoed through the chamber.

Both Lia and Kanna froze as another dagger instantly intercepted Kanna’s strike just inches away from Lia.

Both women immediately turned toward the wielder of the dagger, only to see a tall young man standing there calmly with a faint smile on his face.

His black hair swayed gently as the last traces of crimson mist drifted away from his body, which had only just fully materialized.

His crimson eyes settled upon Kanna, who instantly came out of her shock and moved away, taking a few steps back.

Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. She hadn’t even sensed him arriving.

Meanwhile, Lia remained completely frozen, blankly staring at the familiar face before her.

Her lips trembled.

“B–Brother…?”

The words escaped her lips in a stuttered whisper.

Lucian turned his gaze away from Kanna, and the moment his gaze landed on Lia, the sharpness in his eyes completely melted away.

“Long time no see, my dear sister.” His voice softened as his lips curled into a gentle smile.

He kept the dagger back into his inventory, leaving a bewildered Kanna, who saw the blade suddenly vanish from his hands.

Lucian, however, paid no attention to her reaction and walked toward Lia

Before he could even fully reach her—

“Brother!”

Lia suddenly rushed forward and threw herself straight into his arms.

The sudden impact made his body tilt slightly before he steadied himself. Instinctively, he wrapped both arms around her waist before she could lose her balance.

Lia’s body trembled faintly at his touch as she buried her face against his chest.

The warmth she had missed for two entire months… her brother, whom she loved so much, was finally before her again.

Lucian was about to pat her head, since he had missed the feel of her hair for so long, though just as he was about to—

Lia quickly pulled her face away from his chest and looked directly into his eyes with a furious expression.

“Where were you for so long?!” Her voice trembled with anger as she glared at him.

She had waited…

Day and night, never knowing when he might return… or, in the worst-case scenario, if he would return at all.

Ever since that enormous worm incident, she had barely gotten the chance to talk to him properly.

She had thought she would finally be able to tell him how she felt about him, but…

Before she even got the proper chance, that shameless big-breasted redhead had kidnapped him, taking him away to who knew where.